Cable connecter



Jan 6, 1931. J. c. LEDBET'rr-:R

CABLE CONNECTER Filed June 2, 1928 INVENTOR. Jdve: (bmml ediz/fer ATTORNEY:

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 e srafrws g EAT-ENT oFFcE JAMES CAMROD LEnBETTEB, or NEW YoRK, N. Y.; ASSIGNOR TOTHE THOMAS & BETTS l OO., OF ELIZABETH, New JnRsEY, A CORPORATION ONNEW JERSEY CABLE CONNECTER Application filed June 2, 19278.` Serial I\`Io."282i,1'72.`v-

This inventionrelates to cable'v connecters yfor use in connection With Velectric house Wiring installationand the like to anchor cable to electrical outlet boxes. f

f gli. main object of this invention is to pro! (luce improvements in cablerconnecte'rs of the type Or kind `which expose apportion Vof the boit hole edge tothe cable received there into; n'particnlar my improvements relate to ai novel one-piece bushing insert carried by or Within connecter membentheinsert including a bushingya cable clamp. plate attached thereto, anda connecter-support arm or retaining vhook to support the weight of thev connecter inthe box hole and retain it vtherein preliminary'to the insertion Vof the lform as shoivn ,for example intheprescnt ff se disclosure, it follows that the composite bnshing7 adapting shutter, clamp'plateand retain-- ingarm hool are mounted Within thesleeve.

Having the above and'other objects in view,

reference'v is noiv made to the accomp anying drawings showing anexample ofthe inventionvfherein: *if

'Figures l through 5, respectively', show a longitudinal section; and shows an onter eno` an inner end.y and a side elevation; and shows a top plan vievv of a connecter member made in this instance as a sleeve. Itfisto be underw stood, hoWeverythatthe sha-peand form of this connecter member ma?,7 be yvaried Without departing from the principles of this inven1 ,tion,since indeed the invention itselr` relates to the novel one-piecev compositefbushing in sert carried With or bythe member.

.Figure 6 show/sa flat energies@ sheetaiietel rfor large and small cable e stamping` from which is fashioned the improved composite bushing including a cable clainpvplate, an adapting-shutter and' connec ter-snpporthook. f s f n Figure Z vshows a longitudinal section ol' the completely assembled connecter With screw-operating-ineans and'lwith the bushing *insert` mounted in place Ong the connecter member f Figures 8, 9 and'lOfshOW, respectivelyla side, an 'outer end and inner endv elevation of the completed and'integral one-piece bushing insert which' includes a Wire bushing,V a clampV plate, a shutter and a connecter-support hook; Y. f Figure ll shows a longitudinalv section of a completed box assembl7 with a cableand a connecter.anchoredin the box knockout or cable receiving hole; and Figure 12 sho-Ws an outside end elevation of the box assembly. f In electrical house Wiring installations, outlet boxes B of any suitable type arefprovided with knockout lOpenings oivholes H into v'Which are receivedconduit -or cable C' containing the'electrical- Wires W which are connected to other Wires (not shown)y in the other devices." Thisvinvention provides a .box to supply cnrre'ntto lighting-iixturesfor y simple 'connecter toliXv the cable in the box y "pass and against Which stops the inner 'raggedendco'f thecable C, yand thebushing c arries-a'v connecter-support arm yor `hook which projects over and .bears Aon the. `bOXhole edge t'osecurely hold 'th e connecter in `place Within theyboX holey nntil the `mechanic',succeeds in placing .theel cable` G r in 1place and until `he tightens theoperating screw.` x

Describing first the structure of one suitable, form-of-connectermember, I Will say that the member laisineiect the frame.. or vbody o'vvhich all movable parts are mount- ,edfIt-.is nsuallymade in 'sleeve form', and is snita'blein size to it into the boX h'oleland is so shaped and formed aslto-leave exposed or nncovered'a portion ofsaid box hole edge To Vaas enathsshea Side of 'thema'. f

-necterfsleeve le has e portion @nt awayfas. inf y dicated at 15 which makes the lower half 14 of t-he sleeve shortand the upper half 16 thereof is long. The result is that the Lipper long or Vprojecting sleeve portion 16 extends through and overhangs one portion of the the outside ofthe box and ears 18 'on the inside Vof the box. Hence abox hole wall or box edge receiving groove or shouldered re- -.cess 19 is in reality deiined between the ears or ribs 17-and 18. `VVhen thebox hole edge or box wall rests in the groove 19, it follows that the connecter member leb-16 is fixed or anchored in the boX against longitudinal displacement.. For short the structural means 17 -18-,19 is simply referredto as anchorage means because it anchors the connecter in the box. A threaded screw hole 20 is made through the upper longer portion of the connecter member and po-ints toward the cutaway sleeve portion v15, i. e., theV screw hole 20 and hence a screw points toward the exposed box hole edge portion. A radial groove 21 may be formed in the longer portion 16 of the sleeve above the cutaway portion 15 and this groove may be formed in or through the outer ear or rib 17 and acts to guide an adapting shutter in up and down vmotion to and from the cable as later described.

Operating means such as V@screw 2 3 is threaded into the' tappedV hole 20 'through the connecter member and toward fthe shortvv,enedfcutaway member portion 15. .This arrangement of the screw directs one end`thereof towards the'exposed portion of the box' hole edge and hence delivers the screw pressure tothe most effective place'as will be explained. The foregoing ldescription covers in 'general 'one form of connecter me1nber 'with'V operatingmeans mounted therein.

Y A descriptionjwi'll now be given ofthe combination onespiece bushing insert-which more particularly constitutes myV invention.

. igure 6shows a iiat sheet-metal stamping' Y fromv which is madethe composite-bushing` insert adapted to-'be mounted inthe cable Vconnecter sleeveor Vcarried by any connecter member of the type which exposes afpart of Vthe box hole edge. The stamping includesY a central "ring 25' which' .lis fashioned into a 'bushing and cablejstopV with a'centralwire bushing 26 and passage flared and ovalled for smoothness f-toprot'ect the wires The .bushing '26 .carriesI an integral Vspring-hoek arm `327 the Vouter end fof Awhich may bev'bent outwa'rfdlyv to form a boxhole hook` 28. The springarrn 27 isfpressed inward'- -lvjat '29y and" at'rig-hty angles to ythe plane (if thefring so that `the 'spring 'retaining arm 27is set inwardly from the rim or periphery of the ring 25 as indicated at 29.

The ring 25 also carries another arm 30 adapted for use as a cable clamp plate. The two arms 27 and 30 are preferably disposed diamctrically opposite eachother and are integral with the bushing ring 25. The inner end ofthe cable clamp 30 is also swedged inwardly at 29. The outer end 31 of the cable clamp plate 30 is bent outwardly to form an adapting shutter 31. The shutter end 31 is made with a rib 32 pressed therein. This rib 32 slidably engages the groove 21 formed in the upper outer end of the connecter member to restrain the sheet-metal insert from rotating vout of normal operating position within the sleeve.

The arms 27 and 30 are disposed normally parallel to each other and both outer ends '28 andY 31 are bent away from each other to respectively form the outer box-hole hook 28 and the shutter 31. Likewise both arms 27 and 30'are disposed substantially perpendicular to the planeof the ring 25. TheseY two arms 27 and 30 are oset, swedged or pressed Vinwardly as at 29 from the outer circumference of the ring 25" so that the spaced distance between the parallel arms 27 and 3() isactually somewhat less than the diameter of the ring 25. Hence the periphery of the 'ring 25 extends above or beyond the outer Ysurface of the arms 27 *and 30.

The construction of the connecter member 1% as well as the composite-bushing insert 25 has now been described. An. explanation will now follow as to their assembly to show their working relation and the advantage of making the parts 30, 25 and 27 of the insert in one piece.

Th'ecomposite sheet-metal spring insert 25 has vits outer free hook ends 28 and 31 Ysprung v'together and towards each other, whereuponthe sleeve 14 may be snapped into position as shown in Figure 7'by placing the arms 27 and4 30 through the sleeve. The outside diameter of the bushing 25 being approximately equalto the diameter of the sleeve 'lll and the swedged and offset portions 29 cause these two parts toY match and lfit well together so that the bushing-ring ts the sleeve end. In'1 factV the offsets 29' for each arm 27 and 30 permits the bushing 25 to fully close the inner end of the sleeve.

-The cableclamp plate 27-30 is placed under kedge 15 a distance about equal to the thickness of the box walls In other fwords'vthe r'sus box hole edgeis received within the space defined by the spring hook 28 and the cutaway edgelof the sleeve.

Figures l1 and l2 show the use of the connecter. "It is snapped yinto 'bcxlriioclrout H and it is signiiicantthat the spriiig-retaining arm 27 prevents the weight of the connecter from falling out ofthe box Ypreliminary to the insertion of the cable Cf The connecter would otherwise fall out and would necessarily have to be held by one hand of ther mechanic'while he inserted the' cable C `and tightened upthe screw 23 if it were vnot iaw of acable clamp of 'great strength. Since the box hole edge acts as one iaw,y it follows that the cable is actually fastened to the boxY and this is an advantage becausea firmer anchorage is established, ymuch more so than by totally fixing the cable inthe' connecter and thereafter anchoringthe connecter ina box.

Since the cutaway sleeve yend edge portion 15 exposes a portion of the box hole edge it follows that the connecter when inserted in the box hole has no nieansof support'and hence it would drop out. .But I have vprovided against this contingency by supplying the improvements in the spring-snap hook 28 which supports the weight of the connecter and it cannot therefore .falli out of the vbox not even by 'quicklypushing the cable v C into the connecter. vWhen the'cable Cijs ammed into the connecter the hook 28 positively holds the ineniberl iii the box hole against displacement, the inner ragged end kof thefcable stops against the :bushing and the wires W pass through thefapertiire 26 thereof.. *The screw 23 is now run down against theacableclamp plate and lgrips the cable C between the exposed boxhole 4edge and cable clamp. The reaetioiiiforce exerted on .the connecter positively seatsthe'box anchorage groove `19 againstftheupper box hole edge with the resultvthat 'theears 17 and 18` overlap Lthe inside andoutside ofthe box wall :thereby 'positively anchored the connecter in the box. In othervvords,y the oneration'of vthe screw clamps the cable in 'tliefbox andsiinultane ously renders effective 'the box hole anchorage means carried on the connecter." y 'f In: case itis .desired tol fasten relatively small cablein the boxpthescrew 28 'runs the "cableclamp Aplate SOlvdown until thellatter clamps againsttbe small'size. cable. -I-f `may be omitted.

, bearing clamp plate.

the cable is rather smallin size, tlieshutter 31 closes the outerend of the connecter thereby avoiding the disadvantages of having unA necessaryfopen spaces leading from the connecter sleeve linto the box. shuttermakes the connecter suitable for use with small size cable because the shutter closes the sleeve above the small cable.

Itis significant in my inventionthat the composite-bushing insert 25 is made integral with its relatedparts. It is also a feature thatthe shutter k31 and offset 29 hold the iiisei't'in the connectersleeve. A cable connecter of this kind does not require that the manufacturer make a bushing on the inner end of the connecterlt and therefore the connecter f member is simplified as to its manufacture. Itinayy be remarked that the important feature 4with' i which this invention isconcerned is the'inaking of the bushing 25V and the hook arm 27-28 all in one part: and also the shutter; l31, the .cableclamp plate 30, the bushing 25, the spring arm 27 and the hook28 all in one integral partA which reduces the number lof parts -in the fina-l assembly 1- l f A'further feature of the invention is the fact that the bushing25 and box hook 27-.-2S are advantageously made in one partv aside from any consideration of .the clamp plate y30 and shutter 31 becausethe latter twofparts The factV that the arm 27 hasrits inner endsattaclied to the bushing 25 provides a long reach for the arm which is an advantagebecanseit reaches inwardly to .the inner end of the connecter sleeve and supports it against downwardly tipping Hdisplacement to restrain it from .dropping out of the box holei In'v suchfniodiiied forms of construction as I .may cliooseto employ which does not malte `use ofthe'icablev clamp plate 30, the screw 23 `willthen alone functionas a cable clainpand operating means.

terbearsdirectly against the cable and The screw end in this latgrips it between ,thestationary box edge and The adapting 4.

fin

rotating screw end.V The bushing and the box-hook connecter-support arm perform their functions quite independently of the .Thescrew delivers pressureto the clamp plate and the latter distributes the pressure over one or more convolntioiis ofthe-cable or l overagreater areathan the end of the screw endhence lthe cable `is protected from crushing action by the screw. The clamp plate 30 also exerts pressure lon the cable in the'plane. of the bexrwall and thus the cable is pinched agaiiisttlie-exposed box hole edge.A In fact plane .of the box wall. i

the screw' 23isfeii'ectively tilted aiid'rlocated ,so that its inner endis approximately in the vIt is evident Vthat when-the cable Gis thrust intotheconnecter and against the "bushing, I

that the shutter- 31 yand box-hole hookl 28,

i ai

either'1 oneor both ofthese parts, restrains thebushing 25 and firmly-holds it against the end otk the connecter sleeve. In the-same way, the-bushing holds the shutter 31 and hook 28 in proper position.

Any suitable means may kbe .used to ix'the sheet metal insert 30-.25-27 against rotation within the connecter member 111 and since the expedient ofthe guide groove 21 with shutter rib- 82 is known in the art for this purpose, the same is adopted as a matter of convenience. This cooperating guide means 21-32 interposed between the shutter and connecter member positively Yholds the clamp plateBO under the screw.. Y

f The box-hook arm 27 may wellaiord to be narrow so as not-to cover up too much of the exposed box hole edgeportion. On thevothe'r hand the cla-mp plate 30 may if desired be wide and arched or. curved in cross-sectionto fit the cable.` These two' .outstanding arm parts may ot course be modiiied in many respects. Sofar as I am aware, it is new to make thebushing insert25 integral withits related parts shown and described. `Assuredly, it is also new to integrally makeV the bushing 26 alone and itself in one piecewith the connecter-support hook VQ'Z-QS by which an exposed-box-hole-edge-type of connecter is snapped into a. box knockoutY and held there preliminary7 to completing the box assembly. i Yl/Vhat is claimed is: Y y i 1. A cable connecter comprising a member suitable in size tokit into a box hole and being so shapedv and formed as to leave exposed a v portion of vthe box hole edge, 'a single sheetmetal stamping fashioned into a bushing which is disposed at one end of the member vand including an integral spring-arm hook carried perpendicular to and with the bushing and which is adapted to engage `said exposed box hole edge and supportthe connecter in the box hole preliminary to inserting a cable, box hole edge anchorage means carried on the connecter toiix it in Va box hole,

and cable clamp and operating means to grip means.

a cable and render effective the anchorage 2. Acable connecter comprising a sleeve suit-able in size tofit into a boxholeand being cutaway and so shaped andtormedas to leave exposed a portion of a box hole edge, anchorage means on the member to fix it in a box hole, a bushing-ring disposed Yat and closing the inner end of the sleeve, and a springhook'connecter-supporting arm integral with and `rprojecting from the bushing-ring and swedged inwardly from the periphery of the `bushing-ring and extending through the sleeve and vhaving on its Afree; end a portion to engage and holdagainstv abox holeedge, and said inwardly swedged portion of the bushing-ring aording an outer free and clear bashing-ras periphery Wherebylthe inner end .of the sleeve is fitted with and closed by .the bushing-ring,v Y Y Y 3. A connecter comprising amember suitable .in size to fit into a box hole and being so shaped and formed thatit leaves a portion n of the box hole edge exposed toa cable when inserted; a bushing, a cable clamp plate and a retaining. spring integrally formed from a single sheet of material; the'bushing being disposed at one end of the member, the cable clamp plate and the retaining spring being spaced apart and normally parallel-and projecting from the vbushing and extending alongside the member thereby adapting a cable to be received therebetween; the reil.. taining spring being adapted to bear on the the member to anchor itself in the box.

.41'. Ajconnecter comprising a member suitable in size to fit into a Vbox hole and being so shaped and formed that it leaves exposed a portion of the box hole edge; a bushing, a

cable clamp plate,` a shutter and a retaining spring all fashioned from a single sheet of' material; the bushing being mounted stationary at onevend ofthe member, and the shutter being slidably carried at Vthe other end of the member, the clamp plate Ybeing placed alongside the member and adapted to ilex toward the exposed box hole edge, and the retaining spring overlying and bearing on the exposedl box holel edge to support the Weight of and toretain the connecter in the box hole-preliminary to the insertion of a cable throughthe boxhole; andv operating 1 means carried withthe connecter adapted to move the cablecla'mp'plate against a cable and hence grip the latter against the exposed box hole edge and by reactionffi'rmly seat the memberagainsttlie box hole edge to anchor the connecter in the box and to also move the shutter toward the cable.

5. A. connecter comprising' a stamping Awhich includes a'ring with a pair of arms extending from diametrically oppositepoints'; the ring being fashioned into al bushing, one arm-being formed into a cable clamp plate, and the other arm being'made into a retaining spring; a sleeve suitable in size to fit int-o a box holefand being so shaped andformed as to leaveexposed a .portion ofthe edge of saidy box hole; thering-bushing mounted at lone end of the sleeve and `being larger than the sleeve,the two arms extendingthrough the, sleeve, and an outwardly turned portion 'formed oneach free .endoi the arm which confinesthesleeve o n the arms; land an-operatello bearing on one arm to lclamp it against a cable and hence forcing the cable against the exposed portion of a box hole edge.

6. A connecter comprising a single piece stamping fashioned into a bushing, a cable clamp pla-te and a box hole hook integral with the bushing at its outer edge and extending y therefrom at diametrioally opposite points, a connecter sleeve mounted on the cable clamp plate and box hole hook, ythe outer free ends of the cable clamp plate and box hole hook includingoutwardly turned ends which holds together the sleeve and stamping and Which also retains the connecte-r in a box hole preliminary to placing a cable therein, and operating means to force the cable clamp plate against a cable and force the latter toward the box hole hook.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

JAMES CAMROD LEDBETTER. 

